Southbridge men held on bail after shots at home

SOUTHBRIDGE — Two Southbridge men were ordered held on $50,000 bail Tuesday after they allegedly shot at a Main Street apartment building on Monday for the second time this year, authorities said.

Norberto Alvelo, 21, of 387 Hamilton St., Apt. 1, and Angel M. Barbosa Castillo, 23, of 46 Old Sturbridge Road, Apt. 1, were charged with witness intimidation, assault to intimidate, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, and discharging a firearm within 100 feet of a highway, Route 131.

Mr. Alvelo is awaiting trial for a similar incident in July involving the same resident of the three-family building, and Mr. Castillo's case in the July shooting is pending, court records said.

Both are to return Nov. 7 for pretrial hearings in the more recent case. A Spanish interpreter has been requested.

About 9:20 p.m. Monday, officers were sent to 538 Main St.; many callers had reported hearing approximately five shots fired in the area, a police report said.

A man told police he saw two men in the backyard or driveway area of 538 Main St. fire weapons in the direction of his building. The man said he recognized Mr. Barbosa as one of the shooters, police said.

Police found two shell casings from a .40-caliber firearm on the ground, and many holes in the building's siding. Detectives pulled off the siding and found many bullets behind it, police said.

Police found Mr. Barbosa at his home and arrested him. Mr. Alvelo was arrested after he was seen leaving a Hamilton Street residence, police said.

In the previous case, two residents of the building said they saw Mr. Barbosa and Mr. Arvelo discharge weapons toward the building and flee.

The witnesses said a member of their family had argued with the shooting suspects, the report said.

The witnesses identified the shooters from police photographs, reports said. Both men had been held on $1,000 bail.